Physics – Condensed Matter – Materials Science
Scientific paper
2009-11-17
Journal of Superhard Materials, 31 [5] 285-291 (2009)
Physics
Condensed Matter
Materials Science
Scientific paper
10.3103/S1063457609050013
Boron is a unique element, being the only element, all known polymorphs of which are superhard, and all of its crystal structures are distinct from any other element. The electron-deficient bonding in boron explains its remarkable sensitivity to even small concentrations of impurity atoms and allows boron to form peculiar chemical compounds with very different elements. These complications made the study of boron a great challenge, creating also a unique and instructive chapter in the history of science. Strange though it may sound, the discovery of boron in 1808 was ambiguous, with pure boron polymorphs established only starting from the 1950s-1970s, and only in 2007 was the stable phase at ambient conditions determined. The history of boron research from its discovery to the latest discoveries pertaining to the phase diagram of this element, the structure and stability of beta-boron, and establishment of a new high-pressure polymorph, gamma-boron, is reviewed.
Oganov Artem R.
Solozhenko Vladimir L.
No associations
LandOfFree
Boron: a Hunt for Superhard Polymorphs does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Boron: a Hunt for Superhard Polymorphs, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Boron: a Hunt for Superhard Polymorphs will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-649490